Pulsator apparatus for milking machines



July 25, 1950 J. R. LowRY PULsAToR APPARATUS FOR MILKING MACHINES Filed July so, 1947 JNM/v70@ dem@ xe. Lowry /ffwca lllllllllllllli Patented July 25, 11950 PULsAToR APPARATUS Fon MILKING MAornNEs Jesse It. Lowry, Des Moines, I owa V Application July 30, 1947, SeriaLNo. 764,870

' 1 Claim. (C1. .s1- 62) l This invention relates generally to milking machines and in particular to a pulsator apparatus for a milking machine. v

An object of this invention is to provide an improved milking machine of the pulsator type.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pulsator apparatus for a milking machine in which the alternately high and low working pressures of a reciprocating pump are utilized to operate inllation type teat cups and to provide for the air in the space of a milk receptacle being at a sub-atmospheric pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pulsator apparatus for a milking machine which is of a simple and compact construction, and has all of the fluid passages therein readily accessible for cleaning purposes.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a pulsator apparatus for a milking machine in which a valve unit carried on the cover of a milk receptacle is formed with an air chamber having three air connections; a rst one of which is connected with the main air tube of a claw assembly, and a second of which is open to the receptacle space.A The third connection is connected with a reciprocating pump so as to be acted on by the alternately high and low working pressures of the pump. A one-way Valve member in the second air connectioncontrols the flow of air therethrough and is in a closed position when high pressure air is supplied to the Valve unit chamber, so that air is exhausted from the receptacle during each low working` pressure or suction cycle of the pump. As a result air `at alternately high and low pressure is supplied to the claw air tube and the air in the receptacle space is maintained at a sub-atmospheric pressure. A fluid connection between the receptacle space and the claw milk tube provides for the flow of milk into the receptacle. y

Further objects, featuresv and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view .of a portable milking machine embodying the pulsator apparatus of this invention, with certain parts being broken away to more clearly show its construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional View of a bleeder valve, shown generally in Fig. 1, for maintaining the -air in the milk receptacle at a predetermined sub-'atmospheric pressure;v E l Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional View of a valve unit and receptacle cover assembly, shown generally in Fig. 1, and forming part of the pulsator apparatus Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the receptacle and the cover therefor, with parts being broken away for the purpose of clarity; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

With reference, to `the drawings, the pulsator apparatus of this invention is illustrated in Fig. 1, as applied to a portable milking machine having a base or frame Ill supported on a front caster wheel II, and rear wheels I5. The frame Ill has a pair of upright longitudinally spaced supports or standards I2 and I3, with the rear standard I3 being provided with a rearwardly extended platform I4 for carrying a milk receptacle I6.

'I'he pulsator apparatus includes a reciprocating pump, designated generally as Il, having a cylinder I8 and a piston I9.. The pump is suitably secured adjacent the upper end of the front standard I2, and the piston rod 2I extends downwardly and forwardly for the pivotal connection of its lower end at 22 with the free end of a crank arm 23 mounted on the power take off shaft 24 of a speed reduction mechanism, indicated generally as 25, and mounted on the frame I0 ahead of the front standard I2. An electric motor 25, arranged on the frame I0 between the standards l2 and I3, is belt connected with a driven pulley 21 which forms part of the speed reduction mechanism 25.

, The top wall or head, 28 of the cylinder I8 has a single air connection 23 which is connected through a flexible tube or conduit 3| with a front air connection 32 formed as part of a valve unit 33 carried on a cover 34 for the milk receptacle I6.

The valve unit 3-3 (Figs. 1 and 3) includes an uprighttubular body member 35 having its lower end 31 extended through the cover 34 so as to be open to the space 35 within the receptacle. The front air connection 32 has its inner end open to the air chamber or passage 38, within the tubular member 36, and is oppositely arranged from a rear air connection 39, which also has its inner end open to the air passage 38. As best appears in Fig. 3, the inner ends of the front air connection 32A and the' rear air connection 39 are open to the passage 3B at positions spaced from the lower end 3.1 of the body member 36.

A one-Way Valve for controlling the flow of air through the lower end 31 of the tubular member 36, includes a valve seat 4I formed at-such lower end and adapted to receivein seated engagement a ball valve 42, which is insertable into the passage f 3 38 through the upper end of the tubular member 36. It is seen, therefore, that the ball 42 is movable upwardly to open the lower end 31 of the tube 36.

The upper end of the tube 36 (Fig. 3) is fluid sealed by removable means comprising a combination stop and sealing member 43, of a substantially cylindrical shape, having its lower end 44 of a reduced sectionand a valve-portion 45 at its upper end adapted to be seated in a seat 41 formed at the upper end of the tubular body member 36. The valve portion 4B, of the combination member 43, is maintained in fluid sealed engagement with the seat 4'! `by a cap member 48 screwed about the upper end of the tubular body member 35.

The reduced section 44, of the combination member 43, terminates at a spaced positiouabove the seat 4I, at the lower end 31 of the :tubular member 3S, and constitutes a stop for limiting the upward movement of the ball valve 42.

The rear air connection 3S, on the valve unit 83, is connected through a flexible tube '49 with the main air tube I of a claw assembly 52 (Fig. 1). This assembly is shown in Fig. 1, in its position when the machine is in transport, in vwhich a`hook`53 thereon is hung from a hook 54 formed on'anarm v5B extended rearwardly from the rear standard I3. A main milk tube 5l, of the claw assembly 52, is connected through a ilexible tube 58 with a milk connection 59 carried on the receptacle cover 34 and open at its inner end to the receptacle space 35. The air tube 5I and milk tube 5l are connected with air and milk lines BI and 62, respectively, provided on teat cups 63 of ya usual inflation type.

The receptacle cover 34 (Figs. 3 and 4) is integrally formed with a downwardly and inwardly extended marginal flange 64 which ts about the receptacle top rim 6E. A ilat rubber gasket 6l, of a ring shape, is positioned within the cover flange 34 so as to rest on the receptacle rim BS when the cover is in its receptacle closing position.

The gasket 6T is pressed into fluid sealed engagement with the cover 34 and the rim 66 by the provision of means including an upright outwardly curved arm G8 secured at its-upperend to an upright projection 69 swivelly mounted at Il on the cap member 48. The lower end of the arm 68 is positioned between a pair of 4spaced upright ears l2 which are carried on the cover 34 at a position near the peripheral edge thereof. The lower end of the arm 68 is removable 'rom s position between the ears l2, only on removal of the cap 43 from the tubular member 36. As a result, when such lower end is between the ears I2 and the cap is tightened, the arm 68 is positively held against-rotational movement relative to the cap.

A bail 13 (Figs. l and 4) is supported in a usual manner on a ring clamp 14, mounted about a neck portion 'I3 for the receptacle 16, for swinging movement about pivots 'IT across the top of the receptacle I5. With the arm 68 andthe cap 4B in their relative assembled positions shownin Fig. 4, the bail 'I3 is swung upwardlyalong the arm S8 to anupright position for releasable engagement with the arm at a notch 'i8 formed in its upper end. The bail 'I3 is composed of a yieldable rod material so that in'its engaged position a kdownward Ipressure is applied on the cover 34 whereby the gasket 61 is clamped between the cover 34 `and `the receptacle rim 66. Itis V4 apparent, of course, that prior to the upward swinging movement of the bail, the arm 6B is arranged so as to be in a plane normal to the axes of the pivots 11.

In the operation of the pulsator apparatus, assume the pump piston I 9 to be in its bottom position. When the piston I9 is moved upwardly as a result of the operation of the motor 26, air under pressure is discharged `through the tube 3I and into the'air passage 38 of the valve unit 33. As a result of this high pressure air in the passage 38, the ball valve 42 is maintained in seated engagement with the seat 4 I, whereby the yil'owof air at high pressure is continued through the rear air connection 39 and the tube 49 to the' `main air tube 5I of the claw assembly 52, whereby to collapse the inflations of the teat cups63.-

On the suction, or downstroke of the piston i9, air is exhausted from the tube 3l, passage 38, tube 49 and the air tube, 5I whereby the inilations in the teat kcups 63 are permitted to eX- pand. As a result of the exhausting of air from these parts, the ball valve 42 'is moved upwardly to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, so that air is concurrently exhausted from the space 35 of the receptable 16. It is seen, therefore, that on each exhaust or upstroke cycle of the piston I9, the receptacle space 35 is sealed or closed from communication with the air connections 32 and 39, and on each downstroke or suction cycle of the piston I3, that air is exhausted therefrom. The air within the space 35 is thus at a sub-atmospheric pressure to provide for a flow ofmilk from the milk tube 5l and through the tube 5B into the receptacle.

The sub-atmospheric pressure of the air in the receptacle IG is maintained at a substantially constant predetermined value by the lprovision of a usual type bleeder valve (Figs. 1 and 2) which is connected in an air line 8l open at one end 82 to the receptacle space 35 and provided at its other end 83 with an air gage 84 mounted on a vbracket 85 extended rearwardly from the rear standard I3. vBy merely adjusting the bleeder valve 80 a desired amount of atmospheric air is admitted vto the receptacle space 35 concurrently with the suction action of the pump Il. It is to vbe understood, of course, that the valve 83, under some conditions of operation, may be entirely closed.

Since the delivery of high pressure air by the pump Il, fora size of the piston I9 required to develop a desired sub-atmospheric pressure of the air inthe teat cups 63 and receptacle I6, may be relativelygreat, a one-way bleeder valve 8l (Figs. 1 and 5) is provided on the cylinder head 28. Thus on each upstroke or exhaust cycle of the piston I9 air is discharged through the bleeder valve 81 concurrently ywith the delivery of air at high pressure through the tube 3l.

vFrom-a consideration of the above description it is seenthat the invention provides an improved pulsator apparatus for a milking machine which is of a simple and-compact construction and efficient in operation. The cover 34 is readily removable from the receptacle I6, and on removal of the cap member '48 all of the air and milk passages carried thereon are readily accessible for cleaning purposes. Further, by virtue of the tapered or bent `construction of the flange 64, the gasket 61 is positively retained against falling out of the vcover on the removal thereof from the receptacle AI B.

75 Although the invention has been described and illustrated With respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not` to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are .within the full intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a milking machine having a milk receptacle and a claw assembly with an air tube and a milk tube, a pulsator apparatus comprising a valve unit carried on a cover for said receptacle and having an upright air passage formed thereinv open at its lower end to the space within said receptacle and closed at its upper end, a pair of reversely upwardly inclined air connections arranged at opposite sides of said valve unit with their bottom ends open to said passage at positions adjacent the lower end of the passage, a one way ball Valve member Within said passage at the junction thereof with said air connections, for controlling the flow of air through the lower end of the passage, means for alternately supplying air and exhausting air from one of said air connections, a rst conduit means connecting the other of said air connections with said air tube, a second cond-uit lmeans connecting said milk tube with said receptacle space, said valve member being in a closed position when air is supplied to said one connection, and movable upwardly to an open position when air is exhausted from said one connection, whereby to provide for a sub-atmospheric pressure of the air in the space within said receptacle, and stop means in said passage for limiting the upward movement of said valve member at a position to prevent closing of the bottom ends of said air connections.

JESSE R. LOWRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,163,161 Leitch Dec. 7, 1915 1,218,125 Sharples Mar. 6, 1917 1,432,654 Anderson Oct. 17, 1922 2,361,970 Schmitt Nov. 7, 1944 

